Your list of critical needs was received by our primary supporter – Samaritan’s Purse – and is being evaluated. Available requested medical supplies will be delivered to the Fishermen and will be transferred to Ukraine as quickly as possible. I will keep you informed of what items are to be expected.

I have sent lists from both Dnipropetrovsk and Lysychansk to Samaritan’s Purse for potential donations. Samaritan’s Purse has been our largest supporter and has provided aid to so many of those under our care. They work quickly so I should hear back from them within a few days as to what they are able to ship immediately to the hospitals which I have elected to support.

Though The Fishermen is not prepared to provide assistance to the Internet orphanage in Schastia due to lack of adequate information, I did make contact with the UWO this morning as they specialize in evacuation of orphaned children in danger. These are the same people with whom I worked to help ensure the safe movement of 30,000 + children at the beginning of the war. If they see that Internet is eligible for assistance then at least the children will be moved outside the combat zone. Let’s all pray for the childrens’ safety and a peaceful resolution to this very complicated issue.

After careful consideration I am dropping the Internet orphanage in the embattled Ukrainian town of Schastia from our potential aid recipient list. During my visit I was not able to speak to the director, saw no children, and after numerous requests did not receive a list of needs. Without the above stated requirements I cannot in good conscience ask for donations from you or any of our regular donor agencies. It is sad but unavoidable.

In addition to the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Hospital, I have decided to take on the responsibility of providing care for the patients of the Children’s Hospital in Lysychanjsk. The hospital rests on the edge of a migrating combat zone, which means it comes under fire and occasional occupation by Russian troops. Since civilian movement is severely limited due to military restrictions the Lysychanjsk hospital must treat a far greater patient load (roughly 10,000 – many of which are children) as access to the main children’s hospital in Luhansk is barred by hostile forces. Lysychanjsk CH has an acute shortage of medicine, equipment and food due to overpopulation and the inability of the Ukrainian government to provide what is necessary. I have submitted a request for the most needed items and hope to prepare a shipment soon. Anything is better than nothing.

While in Dnipropetrovsk I discussed a program incentive to place Ukrainian military doctors with US military doctors so that they may enhance their medical skills. Today I received word back from the US House of Representatives and the project took its first step forward. With any luck my initiative will be put into action shortly. I will keep you posted!

Spending time with the troops at the Dnipropetrovsk Military Hospital, Ukraine. Tomorrow I will be submitting a request for equipment and supplies. It is my hope that I will be able to assist these brave men and women at least a little.

The following is a direct request for assistance from the Childrens’ hospital in Lisichansky – an area of frequent combat. I tried to visit the hospital personally but was not able to get there in time. They hhave been vetted by a trusted contact. Please write me if you have any of the basic support items they request below:

The Municipal Institution “Lisichanskiy Center of Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Children” (located at Lugansk oblast, Lisichansk city, 40 Let Pobedy block, 12A building) is intended for long-term (inpatient) care of children aged 3 to 18 years, who were in difficult circumstances; for providing them with comprehensive social, psychological, educational, medical, legal and other assistance.

Our Institution would be greatly appreciated a charitable assistance in the form of winter and summer clothing and footwear, detergents, stationery, painting sets, bedding, educational games (board games, balls, badminton, jump ropes), personal care and healthcare products (list is attached). In the center currently resides 26 inhabitants.

I have been questioned about the value of reconnoitering missions over supply missions. Put simply, a mission establishing logistics and needs is more important than one which delivers supplies. Why? We learned this lesson in the DR Congo wherein we lost $7,000 of material – we cannot take on faith that an orphanage has legitimate needs or even exists. We must have known eyes on the target, meet the administrators, see the children, and discern for ourselves what must be delivered. Just as important is establishing a trusted logistical path to ensure the supplies we send get to the target and are used properly. Since this is difficult to arrange we – The Fishermen – have limited our operations to just a few countries in order to protect our assets. The children need our supplies, not the bandits.

Photo: Children in Kyrgyzstan receiving hygiene supplies from Th e Fishermen International Aid and Relief Nonprofit​